Birth and Beauty Los Angeles Birth Photography and Films

Welcome!

This is an easy to read guide I made for knowing what stage of labor you are in and what is happening with your body. There are also comfort measures with short video clips. Enjoy!

WHAT IS PRE LABOR AND HOW WILL I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--Contractions are neither consistent nor build in intensity.

--It's an exciting time, but don't obsess. Go to lunch. Go to a movie. Relax, this can last a while.

--Call your doula (me!)

--If you can, try to sleep. The number one reason for getting an epidural (not that there is anything wrong with it!) is exhaustion.

WHAT IS EARLY LABOR AND HOW WILL I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--contractions get more consistent and closer together--predictable.

--you may have a bit of blood or mucus when you go to the bathroom. You may have lost your mucus plug.

--your water can break

--time to really breath during the contractions. The Destresser Breath-In through your nose filling your belly 4 seconds and out through your mouth for 6 seconds. The video below demonstrates this breathing (0:53-6:15 minutes). Repeat 4 times calmly. Sit on the birth ball. Lean over birth ball. Whatever you are comfortable with.

MOVING INTO ACTIVE LABOR AND HOW DO I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--Contractions 3-4 minutes apart and growing in intensity.

--Time to go to the hospital

--The 4-1-1 rule. The contractions are every 4 minutes, lasting 1 minute over the course of an hour.

--mom may feel very emotional at this point, but remain calm, baby is coming!

--continue to breath with the technique above through the contractions. Sway together, use birth ball, rebozo and anything that is helpful for you.

WHAT IS ACTIVE LABOR AND HOW DO I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--contractions getting intense and you are dilating from 6-8 centimeters.

--use swaying techniques, breathing, birth ball, squats, rebozo, aromatherapy, visualization, shower, counterpressure and toilet to help you.

The video below is a good demonstration on various uses of counter pressure.

WHAT IS TRANSITION AND HOW DO I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--This is the most intense part of labor but the shortest. The end is near!

--You are going from 8-10 centimeters.

--Contractions are practically on top of each other.

--You may feel the need to poop--this means baby is coming!

--If you don't feel that urge to push, try to continue the same breathing pattern you have been. If you do feel the urge-do the shallow "hee, hee, hoo, hoo" breaths shown in the video below (4:40-6:28):

IS IT TIME TO PUSH BABY OUT AND HOW WILL I KNOW?

--your doctor will know when you are 10 centimeters and will instruct you to push. If you do not want to be told to push by your OB, let them know and follow your body's lead.

--baby may be crowing at this point.

--Don't hold your breath while you push as it may cause tearing. Breathe your baby out. The video explains how to do this very well (6:52-11:27).

The Importance of language during labor

How many times have you have you heard "on a scale from 1-10, how painful are the contractions?" Well, if this is your first baby, probably not often. However, words like this are very common in the hospital setting. Instead, try to use words like "surge" instead on "contraction" or "powerful/intensity" instead of "painful" and "breathe down" instead of "push".

"Words can linger in your subconscious without you realizing. Then they can creep up on you when you least expect it."

Labor Management Measures

During labor, the surges can be quite intense. Birth partners may not always know what to do. Below are some things you can offer. Not everything will work. Not everything will work at different stages. What doesn't work now, may work in 20 minutes. Labor is funny that way!

Breathing.

For labor partners, breathing and counting aloud with momma is important as it gives her something to focus on. Counting in 1-2-3-4 (filling the the lungs up completely) and exhaling 1-2-3-4-5-6. Doing this 4 times during a surge can help give her something to focus her mind on.

Here is a good video showing breathing (yes I showed a different video earlier on this). It is shown from 2:15-3.53.

Relaxation

birth partners--if you see momma tensing up her face, clenching her jaw, squeezing her eyes and holding her breath during a surge, bring her attention back to your voice. Reassure her that she can do this and encourage her to relax her body.

Remember, we want the wonderful loving feelings of Oxytocin (feel good hormone) to flow freely. This hormone fuels labor. The other hormone at play is adrenalin (the enemy of labor). Adrenaline is released when you are stressed, frightened or anxious.

When adrenaline (fight or flight) is present in a birth setting, what happens? Well, the blood that carries oxygen is taken away from the uterus and sent to her extremities. Someone breaks into your house, you need to be up to run or fight. Useful in that situation, but not so good at a birth for sure!

You are her Oxytocin supplier. You voice, your touch, your presence and protection will make her feel safe and loved. The blood with the vital oxygen will help those uterine muscles work more efficiently and labor can progress less painfully and quicker.

Hip Squeeze

The Hip Squeeze is a type of pressure massage that can reduce the intense surges experienced during the later stage of labor. It can also provide baby a little more wiggle room to get into optimal position. In the video below from 0:32 - 1:43 demonstrates how to do the double hip squeeze.

Rebozo

There are several ways to use the rebozo, but here are a couple of my favorites-

The booty Shake! (Shaking the Apple Tree) The video below demonstrates this from 2:02-3:06

The Belly Sift- The video below demonstrates this from 1:32-4:28. This not only feels good to momma, but can help baby move into the optimal position. I do have a rebozo and will be bringing it to the hospital.

Swaying with the rebozo. This keeps both of you connected during surges. The video below demonstrates this from 2:50-3:38.

Other comfort measures include-

-offering a shower

-gentle massage of her feet, back or neck

-warm and cold packs

-using the birth ball

-sitting on the toilet backwards while leaning on the tank portion

This final video is about the importance of the birth partner. The whole video is worth a watch. It's only 7.5 minutes long.

Acronyms to remember

As I close out, I would like you to remember 2 acronyms that are important during the birth of your baby.

UFO

This stands for Upright, Forward and Open during labor and birth and represent the position of momma's body.

upright - your body is working with gravity. Standing, sitting up or walking helps baby move down.

Forward - If momma is leaning forward, then she is opening up her pelvic area. This can be leaning over a bed, against a wall, on the tank of a toilet--whatever feels natural.

Open - by being upright and forward, your body naturally is open.

squats

Birth Bar

Counter pressure

swaying

B.R.A.I.N.

Using your BRAIN during your labor and delivery will be useful when making informed decisions.

Birth and Beauty Los Angeles Birth Photography and Films

Welcome!

This is an easy to read guide I made for knowing what stage of labor you are in and what is happening with your body. There are also comfort measures with short video clips. Enjoy!

WHAT IS PRE LABOR AND HOW WILL I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--Contractions are neither consistent nor build in intensity.

--It's an exciting time, but don't obsess. Go to lunch. Go to a movie. Relax, this can last a while.

--Call your doula (me!)

--If you can, try to sleep. The number one reason for getting an epidural (not that there is anything wrong with it!) is exhaustion.

WHAT IS EARLY LABOR AND HOW WILL I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--contractions get more consistent and closer together--predictable.

--you may have a bit of blood or mucus when you go to the bathroom. You may have lost your mucus plug.

--your water can break

MOVING INTO ACTIVE LABOR AND HOW DO I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--Contractions 3-4 minutes apart and growing in intensity.

--Time to go to the hospital

--The 4-1-1 rule. The contractions are every 4 minutes, lasting 1 minute over the course of an hour.

--mom may feel very emotional at this point, but remain calm, baby is coming!

--continue to breath with the technique above through the contractions. Sway together, use birth ball, rebozo and anything that is helpful for you.

WHAT IS ACTIVE LABOR AND HOW DO I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--contractions getting intense and you are dilating from 6-8 centimeters.

--use swaying techniques, breathing, birth ball, squats, rebozo, aromatherapy, visualization, shower, counterpressure and toilet to help you.

The video below is a good demonstration on various uses of counter pressure.

WHAT IS TRANSITION AND HOW DO I KNOW I AM IN IT?

--This is the most intense part of labor but the shortest. The end is near!

--You are going from 8-10 centimeters.

--Contractions are practically on top of each other.

--You may feel the need to poop--this means baby is coming!

--If you don't feel that urge to push, try to continue the same breathing pattern you have been. If you do feel the urge-do the shallow "hee, hee, hoo, hoo" breaths shown in the video below (4:40-6:28):

IS IT TIME TO PUSH BABY OUT AND HOW WILL I KNOW?

--your doctor will know when you are 10 centimeters and will instruct you to push. If you do not want to be told to push by your OB, let them know and follow your body's lead.

--baby may be crowing at this point.

--Don't hold your breath while you push as it may cause tearing. Breathe your baby out. The video explains how to do this very well (6:52-11:27).

The Importance of language during labor

"Words can linger in your subconscious without you realizing. Then they can creep up on you when you least expect it."

Labor Management Measures

During labor, the surges can be quite intense. Birth partners may not always know what to do. Below are some things you can offer. Not everything will work. Not everything will work at different stages. What doesn't work now, may work in 20 minutes. Labor is funny that way!

Breathing.

For labor partners, breathing and counting aloud with momma is important as it gives her something to focus on. Counting in 1-2-3-4 (filling the the lungs up completely) and exhaling 1-2-3-4-5-6. Doing this 4 times during a surge can help give her something to focus her mind on.

Here is a good video showing breathing (yes I showed a different video earlier on this). It is shown from 2:15-3.53.

Relaxation

birth partners--if you see momma tensing up her face, clenching her jaw, squeezing her eyes and holding her breath during a surge, bring her attention back to your voice. Reassure her that she can do this and encourage her to relax her body.

Remember, we want the wonderful loving feelings of Oxytocin (feel good hormone) to flow freely. This hormone fuels labor. The other hormone at play is adrenalin (the enemy of labor). Adrenaline is released when you are stressed, frightened or anxious.

You are her Oxytocin supplier. You voice, your touch, your presence and protection will make her feel safe and loved. The blood with the vital oxygen will help those uterine muscles work more efficiently and labor can progress less painfully and quicker.

Hip Squeeze

The Hip Squeeze is a type of pressure massage that can reduce the intense surges experienced during the later stage of labor. It can also provide baby a little more wiggle room to get into optimal position. In the video below from 0:32 - 1:43 demonstrates how to do the double hip squeeze.

Rebozo

There are several ways to use the rebozo, but here are a couple of my favorites-

The booty Shake! (Shaking the Apple Tree) The video below demonstrates this from 2:02-3:06

The Belly Sift- The video below demonstrates this from 1:32-4:28. This not only feels good to momma, but can help baby move into the optimal position. I do have a rebozo and will be bringing it to the hospital.

Swaying with the rebozo. This keeps both of you connected during surges. The video below demonstrates this from 2:50-3:38.

Other comfort measures include-

-offering a shower

-gentle massage of her feet, back or neck

-warm and cold packs

-using the birth ball

-sitting on the toilet backwards while leaning on the tank portion

This final video is about the importance of the birth partner. The whole video is worth a watch. It's only 7.5 minutes long.

Acronyms to remember

As I close out, I would like you to remember 2 acronyms that are important during the birth of your baby.

UFO

This stands for Upright, Forward and Open during labor and birth and represent the position of momma's body.

upright - your body is working with gravity. Standing, sitting up or walking helps baby move down.

Forward - If momma is leaning forward, then she is opening up her pelvic area. This can be leaning over a bed, against a wall, on the tank of a toilet--whatever feels natural.

Open - by being upright and forward, your body naturally is open.

B.R.A.I.N.

Using your BRAIN during your labor and delivery will be useful when making informed decisions.

B - what is the BENEFIT of what they are purposing?

R- What is the RISK of what they are purposing?

A - What are the ALTERNATIVES to what they are purposing?

I - What is your INTUITION telling you?

N - What if you do NOTHING for a while?

Yes, I lied, there is one more short video explaining this acronym.

There you have it. I hope you find this useful♥ See you soon!